Cardiovascular disease exercise testing

An inexpensive test that measures the amount of CRP in the blood can detect inflammation when no other symptoms of cardiovascular disease exist. It is estimated that could help prevent up to 25% of all heart attacks. It should be stressed that the test is not an indicator of cardiovascular disease. It simply denotes inflammation and infection, which could be anywhere in the body and could be caused by many things. It cannot be a specific prognostic indicator and not a cure. Individuals who desire a healthy heart still need to eat wisely, avoid tobacco and other known harmful products, and exercise regularly. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce the level of CRP in the blood, which indicates a reduction in inflammation. It has also been shown that aspirin and similar drugs reduce inflammation, which provides an explanation for the accepted practice of taking a low dose of aspirin on a regular basis to help prevent heart attacks. 

Subjects suffering from coronary artery disease were given two capsules containing 300 mg of grape procyanidin extracts (Leucoselect-phytosome) or placebo daily for 5 days. TAC of their blood serum was reported to increase on day 5 from 408.1 22.9 to 453.3 453.3 /u.M) however, samples were taken 1 hr postdose and most probably the results indicate a transient rather than a permanent effect (N10). In a 6-month randomized controlled intervention study, subjects with moderately increased cardiovascular risk factors (1) adhered to an advised diet, (2) performed controlled moderate exercise, (3) were subjected to both diet and exercise regime, or (4) were not subjected to any intervention. No significant alteration in blood serum TAC was observed in any group tested (R22). 

Abbrevations. CAD. coronary artery disease CHF, congestive heard failure CV, cardiovascular CVA, cerebrovascular accident ED, erectile dysfunction ETT, exercise tolerance test LVD, left ventricular dysfunction MI, myocardial infarction NYHA. New York Heart Association. 

Chaitman B. Exercise stress testing. In Braunwald E, ed. Heart Disease A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 4th ed. Philadelphia, Saunders, 1992 161-179. 

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